Warp knit fabric



Dec. 1965 M. BUSCH ETAL WARP KNIT FABRIC Filed July 25, 1962 F ig INVENTORS. MAX BUSCH Y W| LLEM H E Y H H H H H H3 2 m .m/ HEE FU F w 2. w MN, ii \2 L ATTO RNEY United States Patent 3,222,893 WARP KNIT FABRIC Max Busch and Willem Hey, Arnhem, Netherlands, as-

signors to American Erika Corporation, Erika, N.C., a corporation of Delaware Filed July 25, 1962, Ser. No. 212,192 Claims priority, application Netherlands, Aug. 3, 1961,

267,887 4 Claims. (Cl. 66192) This invention relates generally to the manufacture of knitted fabrics and more particularly to a method for producing warp-knit fabrics from two-yarn systems.

Methods for producing warp-knit fabrics from two-yarn systems are known and have been described by E. Michael in a book entitled Die Kettenwirkmaschine (Stuttgart, 1952). Knitting machines for manufacturing warp-knit fabrics are generally referred to as warp-knitting looms. Warp-knit fabrics made from two-yarn systems usually are referred to as two-bar warp-knit fabrics since generally a separate beam of yarn is provided for each yarn system on the warp-knitting loom.

Two-bar warp-knit fabrics are used in widely varying sectors of the textile industry. However, little use has been made so far of warp-knit fabrics for lining suits and coats. Lining material generally must be dimensionally stable and thus stretch very little both in length and breadth. It also must provide good cover as well as a low weight per square yard. Woven linings have satisfied these requirements better than have knitted linings, resulting in the fact that the latter are seldom used even though the knitting process is generally cheaper than weaving.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide warp-knit fabrics that are suitable for lining purposes.

Another object of this invention is to provide light weight warp-knit fabrics having improved cover and dimensional stability.

A further object is to provide a method for producing light weight warp-knit fabrics suitable for lining purpose that have improved cover and dimensional stability.

These and other objects are accomplished in accordance with this invention by carrying out the warp-knitting operation such that during every cycle of the knitting machine the yarn strands of one yarn system are caused to form chain stitch patterns or constructions over two needles, while at the same time the yarn strands of the other yarn system are caused to form inlays over at least two needles. The method may be carried out on knitting machines which are commonly used for the manufacture of two-bar warp-knit fabrics. Both an open and closed chain stitch construction may be used, although only the open chain stitch pattern is disclosed in the drawings.

A stitch construction over two needles is described, intera alia, in the aforementioned book, Die Kettenwirkmaschine. The formation of an inlay over at least two needles is also described in that book and is referred to therein as Futterlegungen. Such an inlay can be used only in combination with a much different construction, because in the formation of an inlay no stitches are formed, the threads forming the inlay being suspended between the stitches of the other construction. Although warp-knit fabrics comprising combinations of a stitch construction with one or more other constructions and also combinations of inlays with various constructions are known, warp-knit fabrics in which a particular stitch construction is combined with an inlay construction in accordance with this invention were heretofore unknown. Moreover, it was completely unexpected that such warp-knit fabrics would possess qualities making them suitable for lining purposes.

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As indicated above, the yarn should form an inlay over at least two needles. Preferably an inlay is made over four needles, thus making it possible to obtain warpknit fabrics having an optimum balance between covering power and weight per square yard while still employing yarns having deniers customarily used in lining materials.

If the method is carried out using two-yarn systems of different colors, a warp-knit fabric is obtained which is remarkably iridescent and very desirable for lining materials. Iridescent woven lining materials are used on a large scale. They are obtained by processing weft yarns having a different color from that of the warp yarns. Iridescent knitted lining materials have been heretofore unknown since in the manufacture of the usual multi-beam warp-knit fabrics the use of different colored yarn systems does not produce this effect. It has been found that the iridescence of warp-knit fabrics is more pronounced if the so-called open chain stitch construction is used.

The warp-knit fabrics of this invention may be aftertreated in the manner customarily used for other warpknit fabrics. For example, they can be dyed after manufacture. Alternatively, it is possible to start from dyed yarns. In the manufacture of plain dyed warp-knit fabrics, it is preferred to start from spun dyed yarns, because the warp-knit fabrics obtained in this way possess a greater dye evenness.

For purposes of illustration and not by way of limitation, one embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein FIGURE 1 shows, on an enlarged scale, a fully threaded two-bar warp-knit fabric and FIGURE 2 is a point diagram of the fabric illustrated in FIGURE 1.

The fabric is produced in such a manner that during every cycle of the knitting machine the yarn strands of one yarn system are caused to form open chain stitch constructions over two needles and those of the other yarn system are simultaneously caused to form inlays over four needles. Yarn strands 1 to 5 form open chain stitch construction and yarn strands 6 to 11 form inlays. Five adjacent wales 12 to 16 and four successive courses 17 to 20 occur in the fabric.

A wale is understood to mean a series of stitches successively formed by one needle of the knitting machine. Consequently, the wales run longitudinally in the warprknit fabric. A course is understood to mean a series of stitches formed during one cycle of the knitting machine from the adjacent threads of the yarn system. Consequently, the courses run traversely in the warp-knit fabric. In every course each of the yarn strands 1 to 5 form stitches in two wales. For example, yarn 1 successively forms two stitches in every course and remains in the same wales, namely 12 and 13. In every course each of the yarn strands 6 to 11 form an inlay over the same four wales. Thus, in every course yarn 10 forms an inlay over the stitches of wales 12 to 15.

At present, lining materials are almost exclusively manufactured from filament yarns and mainly from filament yarns of regenerated cellulose. In a number of applications, however, there is a great need of lining materials composed wholly of synthetic yarns such as nylon and polyethylene terephthalate. Lining materials manufactured from such yarns undergo washing treatments in aqueous liquids without being unduly shrunk or creased. However, linings of such synthetic materials are unsatisfactory since they have low moisture permeability and moisture absorption as a result of which they are very uncomfortable to wear. This is one reason why such woven lining materials are seldom used. The disadvantage of low moisture permeability does not occur in the case of warp-knit fabrics manufactured in accordance with this invention. It, therefore, has special importance in the manufacture of warp-knit fabrics from synthetic filament yarns such as nylon. Such warp-knit fabrics have excellent dimensional stability, very low weight per square yard, high resistance to wear, and may be used as lining in clothes which may be washed in water, without incurring any shrinkage. Additionally, they possess adequate cover when used as linings even if made from very fine yarns. This invention also contemplates warp-knit fabrics and textile products consisting entirely or partly of the warp-knit fabrics obtained by the disclosed method.

Numerous modifications, variations and changes within the scope of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. However, the invention is intended to be limited only as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A warp knit fabric having an open chain stitch pattern extending over two wales, the stitches in each Wale being knit of two differently appearing yarns, and overlapping inlay yarns each extending over four wales within each course.

2. An iridescent warp knit fabric having an open chain stitch pattern extending 'over two wales, the stitches in each Wale being knit of two different colored yarns, and

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,476,153 7/1949 Little et a1. 66-l91 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,105,550 7/1955 France.

OTHER REFERENCES Dietsch. Lehragang auf. der Raschelmachine, Germany, 1922.

Linton, G. E.: The Modern-Textile Dictionary, N.Y., Duell, Sloan & Pearce, 1963 (page 406 relied on).

Merrill et al.: Warp Knitting and Glove Manufacture,

N.Y., Bragdon, Lord and Nagle, 1925.

Paling, D. F.: Warp Knitting Technology, London, England, Harleqiun Press, 1952.

DONALD W. PARKER, Primary Examiner.

RUSSELL c. MADER,Exami1 1er. 

1. A WRAP KNIT FABRIC HAVING AN OPEN CHAIN STITCH PATTERN EXTENDING OVER TWO WALES, THE STITCHES IN EACH WALE BEING KNIT OF TWO DIFFERENTLY APPEARING YARNS, SAID OVERLAPPING INLAY YARNS EACH EXTENDING OVER FOUR WALES WITHIN EACH COURSE. 